Oncorus announces reprioritization of lead product candidate ONCR-021

Oncoru announced that it is reprioritizing its pipeline to focus on its lead viral RNA immunotherapy product candidate, ONCR-021. In addition, the company is discontinuing the development of ONCR-177, reducing its workforce and burn rate and reiterating guidance for its cash runway into early 2024. "Oncorus’ mission is now focused on realizing the full promise of IV-administered, self-amplifying RNA medicines to transform outcomes for cancer patients through our lead program, ONCR-021, which we plan to evaluate in patients with non-small cell lung and other cancers," said Theodore Ashburn, M.D., Ph.D., President, and Chief Executive Officer of Oncorus. "As part of this reprioritization, we are discontinuing the Phase 1 trial of ONCR-177 to focus our resources on ONCR-021. We would like to express our deep gratitude to all the patients and their families, investigators and collaborators who participated in the ONCR-177 study. We believe that we are now well positioned to execute on our goals and progress our novel, first-of-its-kind self-amplifying vRNA immunotherapy candidate, ONCR-021, into the clinic for cancer patients." Oncorus will present the results of the Phase 1 study of ONCR-177 in patients with advanced disease in conjunction with a scientific congress in 2023. In addition, Oncorus has reduced its workforce by 20%, with its remaining workforce solely focused on the clinical development of ONCR-021, its first self-amplifying RNA product candidate. With this re-prioritization and workforce realignment, Oncorus has reduced its burn rate and continues to expect its current cash, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses into early 2024.